Excerpt from Strings Attached

Someone walked up behind him to wait for his turn. Embarrassed to be caught in a reservation fuck-up, Jeremiah turned with an apologetic smile – and did a double take. Before he’d even processed the visual, his mouth had formed the word, “Hello.”

The man looked up, and his eyes widened a little. Long lashes beat once against his cheeks. “Maestro Edmonton.” The semi-stranger grinned and held out his hand. “So pleased to meet you.”

Jeremiah took the offered hand. It was nice and firm, and he almost let slip a chuckle. Even if he hadn’t known that this was the famous Tony Lamb, he would still have pegged the man for a violinist. That particular kind of strength was easily recognizable.

“So it seems we’ll be working together tonight,” Tony grinned.

“Yeah.” Jeremiah realized that he sounded less than enthusiastic, and hastened to explain. “My flight was really late, so I just came here.”

“I know. Your people called.”

“Yeah, I… uh…” He grimaced, wanting to say more, but all his words seemed to evaporate under that candid gray gaze. Suddenly embarrassed, he picked at his damp jacket and tried to gather his thoughts. “I, um… I would have liked to meet the orchestra to have a quick run-through, you know, but I guess… we’ll just have to wing it.”

What was he doing, admitting his misgivings to the bloody soloist? He should be taken out and shot.

But Tony just continued smiling. “It’ll be fine,” he said. “Toi, toi, toi, right?”

“Yeah.” Jeremiah smiled back – it seemed slightly impossible not to, especially when Tony apparently knew and referenced Jeremiah’s love for opera by using the highbrow equivalent of ‘break a leg.’ “So… have you just arrived as well?”

“No, no, I was just out to get a new shirt. The one I brought missed a button. And now I need a toothbrush.” He laughed. “Everything under control, right?”

Jeremiah shifted his weight. “You can… um, you can go before me, because there’s some kind of hiccup with the, um…”

“Yes,” the receptionist cut in, relieved to find an opening. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t find your reservation, sir. And I’m afraid the hotel is fully booked.”

Well, woe is me, what to do? Find out in Strings Attached!